Perpetual fountain

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns a perpetual fountain comprising an upwardly open container filled with liquid, a heat source heating the bottom of the container, and in the container a conduit which successively comprises, in the bottom of the container, a downwardly open, downwardly flared frustoconical portion, a rising vertical column of small diameter, a descending vertical, enlarged portion, and a rising vertical tube of small diameter which terminates at an open point positioned a little above the level of said liquid.

Sept. 9, 1975 5,911 1890 United Kingdom.............. 40/106.21

1 PERPETUAL FOUNTAIN [75] Inventor: Jean-Pierre Goyeau, Sevres, France [73] Assignee: Agence Nationale de Valorisation de imary Examiner-Robert W. Michell Assistant Examiner-John F. Pitrelli la Rescherche (ANVAR), France Mar. 7, 1973 Attorney, Agent, or FirmCraig & Antonelli [22] Filed:

[21] Appl. No.: 338,941

[57] ABSTRACT The invention concerns a perpetual fountain comprising an upwardly open container filled with liquid, a heat source heating the bottom of the container, and

[52] US. 40/106.2l; 272/15 [51] Int. G09f 13/24 [58] Field of Search.......

in the container a conduit which successively com- References cued prises, in the bottom of the container, a downwardly UNITED STATES PATENTS open, downwardly flared frustoconical portion, a ris- 40/106.22 ing vertical column of small diameter, a descending 40/106 21 vertical, enlarged portion, and a rising vertical tube of small diameter which terminates at an open point po- 40/10621 sitioncd a little above the level of said liquid. FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Silver et al.........

1/1956 Hazelroth et a1, 4/1956 Fasson 191,346 Johnson.................... 2,569,078 2,731,747 2,741,693

103,408 3/1938 Australia.. 40/106.21 13 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure PERPETUAL FOUNTAIN The present invention concerns the field of decorative or educational devices. i i In the present state of the art, there are fountains either of the Heron fountain type, in which the only thing that is perpetual is the name, the flow of liquid lasting only for the period that the propellant liquid passes from one container into another, or of the bubbling type, developed from the Franklin balloon flask, which are incapable of producing a continuous jet.

The invention permits these disadvantages to be overcome and provides a fountain which is truly perpetual, as long as the container is held at different heat levels at its top and at its bottom.

Briefly, the perpetual fountain according to the invention comprises an upwardly open container filled with liquid, a heat source heating the bottom of the container, and in the container a conduit which successively comprises, in the bottom of the container, a downwardly open, downwardly flared frustoconical portion, a rising vertical column of small diameter, a descending vertical, enlarged portion, and a rising vertical tube of small diameter which terminates at an open point positioned slightly above the level of said liquid.

When the heat source heats the bottom of the container, vapour bubbles are formed therein and are collected in the frustoconical portion of the conduit. There they cause a reduction in the height of the water head, this setting in movement the liquid and the bubbles in the rising vertical column. The bubbles which arrive in the enlarged portion of the conduit are condensed therein; the level of liquid in the vertical tube rises and, when the reduction in the height of the water head exceeds the height of the point above the surface of the liquid, a jet of liquid is produced, which falls back into the container. Operation of the fountain continues as long as heat is applied to the bottom thereof.

The liquid used in the perpetual fountain according to the invention can be a liquid or a mixture of liquids, and can contain a dissolved gas, preferably a gas which is easily soluble.

Preferably, the small diameter of the rising column is made sufficiently small for a bubble rising therein to push before it the liquid lying above it, which improves operation of the perpetual fountain.

Preferably also, the frustoconical portion is connected to the rising column by a portion which is curved in the shape of an S lying on its side, through which the very small bubbles do not pass.

Preferably also, the enlarged portion is in the form of a bulb portion or successive bulb portions, which facilitates condensation of bubbles of liquid vapour, or redissolution of the gas given off.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying single FIG- URE which is given by way of non-limiting example of the invention.

This embodiment comprises a container 1 which is a tube of substantial diameter. The container 1 is vertical and open upwardly, and filled with liquid 3. A heat source 5 of any suitable kind heats the bottom of the container 1. A conduit comprises, in the bottom of the container, a downwardly open, downwardly flared frustoconical portion 7, a portion 9 which is curved in the shape of an S on its side, a rising vertical column 11 of small diameter, an elbow-connecting portion 13', successiveibulb portions 15 forming an enlarged portion, an elbow connection portion 17, and a rising tube 19 ofsmall diameter which terminates at an open point 21 which is positioned slightly above the level 23 of the liquid 3.

When the heat source 5 is operating, bubbles 25 are formed in the liquid 3 at the bottom of the container 1, and are collected by-the frustoconical portion 7.. The large bubbles pass through the S-shaped portion 9 and drive the liquid (arrow F 1) into the rising column 11 and are condensed (or re-dissolved) in the bulb portions 15. The liquid which is propelled upwardly in the rising tube 19 (arrow F2) issues by way of the point or nozzle 21 in a jet 27 which falls back into the container 1. Liquid returns to the bottom of the container 1 (arrow F3) and replaces that which has been removed by way of the column 9 and the jet 27.

The perpetual fountain according to the invention can be used as an educational or decorative device. An interesting application can be the use of nuclear energy for illustrating the everlastingness thereof.

I claim: 1. A perpetual fountain comprising: container means for holding a fluid at a determined level in said container means, heat generating means for supplying heat to said fluid thereby forming bubbles in said fluid, said heat generating means being arranged at a bottom portion of said container means, a collecting means for collecting fluid containing said bubbles, said collecting means being positioned in said bottom portion, a conduit means contained in said container means for transporting said fluid from said bottom portion of said container to above said determined level, said conduit means comprising in sequence from said bottom portion a. a substantially vertical column connected to said collecting means for enabling said fluid and bubbles to rise, said column havigg a small diameter,

b. a substantially vertical member connected to the upper end of said column and extending downwardly, for enabling said fluid and bubbles to descend, said member having an enlarged portion permitting said bubbles to condense, and

c. a substantially vertical tube connected to the bottom end of said member and extending upwardly for enabling fluid from said member to rise to an open point above said determined level of said fluid.

2. A fountain according to claim 1, wherein the fluid contains a dissolved gas.

3. A fountain according to claim 1, comprising, between said collecting means and said column, a portion which is curved in the shape of a S lying on its side.

4. A fountain according to claim 1, wherein said enlarged portion is in the form of at least one bulb portion.

5. A fountain according to claim 4, wherein said enlarged portion includes a succession of bulb portions.

6. A fountain according to claim 1, wherein said collecting means includes a downwardly open frustoconical member positioned adjacent said heat generating means.

7. A fountain according to claim 6, comprising, between said collecting means and said column, a portion which is curved in the shape of a S lying on its side.

8. A fountain according to claim 1, wherein the small diameter of said column is of a size enabling bubbles rising in said column to push upwardly the fluid above said bubbles.

9. A fountain according to claim 1, wherein said container means is open above said determined level.

10. A fountain according to claim 9, wherein said container means is enclosed above said open point.

11. A fountain according to claim 1, wherein said 

1. A perpetual fountain comprising: container means for holding a fluid at a determined level in said container means, heat generating means for supplying heat to said fluid thereby forming bubbles in said fluid, said heat generating means being arranged at a bottom portion of said container means, a collecting means for collecting fluid containing said bubbles, said collecting means being positioned in said bottom portion, a conduit means contained in said container means for transporting said fluid from said bottom portion of said container to above said determined level, said conduit means comprising in sequence from said bottom portion a. a substantially vertical column connected to said collecting means for enabling said fluid and bubbles to rise, said column having a small diameter, b. a substantially vertical member connected to the upper end of said column and extending downwardly, for enabling said fluid and bubbles to descend, said member having an enlarged portion permitting said bubbles to condense, and c. a substantially vertical tube connected to the bottom end of said member and extending upwardly for enabling fluid from said member to rise to an open point above said determined level of said fluid.
 2. A fountain according to claim 1, wherein the fluid contains a dissolved gas.
 3. A fountain according to claim 1, comprising, between said collecting means and said column, a portion which is curved in the shape of a S lying on its side.
 4. A fountain according to claim 1, wherein said enlarged portion is in the form of at least one bulb portion.
 5. A fountain according to claim 4, wherein said enlarged portion includes a succession of bulb portions.
 6. A fountain according to claim 1, wherein said collecting means includes a downwardly open frustoconical member positioned adjacent said heat generating means.
 7. A fountain according to claim 6, comprising, between said collecting means and said column, a portion which is curved in the shape of a S lying on its side.
 8. A fountain according to claim 1, wherein the small diameter of said column is of a size enabling bubbles rising in said column to push upwardly the fluid above said bubbles.
 9. A fountain according to claim 1, wherein said container means is open above said determined level.
 10. A fountain according to claim 9, whErein said container means is enclosed above said open point.
 11. A fountain according to claim 1, wherein said container means is enclosed above said open point.
 12. A fountain according to claim 1, wherein said conduit means further includes a first elbow means for connecting said upper end of said column to the upper end of said member and a second elbow means for connecting said bottom end of said member to the bottom end of said tube.
 13. A fountain according to claim 1, wherein said enlarged portion has a diameter greater than said small diameter of said column. 